What is UP, Family!! For those that do not know me yet from live chatting in the NFL season-long user chat at Fantasy Alarm, or interacting on the Twitter.com, my name is Sean Mitchell and this will be my first NBA piece for Fantasy Alarm! I am super pumped about joining the FANation, and cannot wait to line those pockets of the FA members during this upcoming NBA season with both Jon Impemba and James Grande!

This first article I will be featuring TEN players for the upcoming season that I could see being a sleeper pick. Now, these 10 players are in no standard order (i.e. it isn’t #1 being my strongest sleeper pick and #10 being the weakest or anything like that). However, just ten that I feel fit the mold. So, what is that mold, you ask?

Factors I look for in a sleeper:

1.) High draft picks that fall right into roles due to line-up changes, players in front being traded, etc.

2.) Secondary players that possessed a bench role last season, but due to circumstances are now in lead roles for their respective positions via players ahead being traded, injuries, etc.

3.) Lastly, look for teams that had a void last season at certain positions, and either filled that void by a high draft pick, or acquisition, trade, etc.

So, now that we have covered a few of the main contributing factors that I look for in a sleeper pick, let’s get down to business…

DeAndre Hunter, ATL SF - Hunter comes fresh from the NBA draft being selected number four overall in the first round of the 2019 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. He was then dealt to the Pelicans, before landing with the Atlanta Hawks. Hunter is a massive land for the Hawks, who ranked first overall in PACE last season in the NBA. Hunter ranked fifth in minutes played in the ACC, seventh in most points scored (579) in ACC, ninth in free-throw attempts (157), 13th in PPG (15.2), and fourth in OFF Rating (125.8). He also averaged 32.5 minutes per game all for the 2018-2019 UVA tourney run where they finished victorious over the whole 64-team field beating Texas Tech in the finals in OT. Hunter finished the tourney winning game with 44 minutes, 27 points, 9 boards, and dished out one assist. Look for Hunter to make an immediate impact with the high-tempo, young Hawks team. They did also just deal Taurean Prince last season, allowing ample room and playing time to be had at the three this season.

Terry Rozier , CHA PG - I believe it is finally time that we get to see the true upside, talent, potential that Terry has as he will gain a full role with the Hornets after the Celtics swapped him in a trade for Kemba Walker . I believe folks forget that Rozier was a first round pick (16th overall) in the 2015 draft. Due to being limited over the past three or four seasons as a reserve role behind the likes of Kyrie Irving , Rozier only was able to showcase his potential in spot starts and garbage time games. Now, Rozier will vacate a starting PG job (along with a vacated 30.8 usage rate) left behind by Walker. Not only that, but the Hornets also traded away Jeremy Lamb , essentially putting the backcourt in the hands of Rozier solely. Look for a very good, and break-out season coming up for him.

Bam Adebayo , MIA C/PF - Smartly enough, the Heat finally saw what that had in a rising star named Bam. They decided to dish off Hassan Whiteside , who had been a real thorn in their side with multiple injuries and inconsistent play. Bam was then (probably was a long-time coming) solidified into the big-man role for the Heat. Bam played in 82 games last season, averaging a 15.9 usage rate, 23.3 MPG, 8.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.2 steals per game, as well as 1.3 blocks per game. If you are looking for a guy that can generally fill your sheet with meaningful stats, look no further than Bam.

Kelly Oubre Jr., PHO SF - In a late season trade during the ‘18-‘19 season, the Wizards allowed Kelly Oubre Jr. to go to the Suns along with Austin Rivers for Trevor Ariza . Little did the Suns know, Oubre would be a major land for them. Oubre Jr. was also a first round selection (15th) by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2015 NBA draft, but did not play any games before being traded to the Washington Wizards. Oubre played in 40 games for the Suns last season, averaging 16.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.4 steals per game, and 1.0 blocks per game. He also averaged 29.5 MPG over the 40 games played, and hopefully we can bank on him seeing close to that again this year in his first full season with the Suns.

Caris LeVert , BKN SG - Levert is another absolute stud first round selection (20th overall) in the 2016 NBA draft. He has been plagued by injury to start his young career, but has come back bigger and stronger than ever. Levert played in 40 games for the Nets in the ‘18-‘19 NBA season, and was third on the team in usage rate at 23.5% (this did include DeAngelo Russel and his 31.1% that is now vacated for Kyrie Irving ). Levert still managed to average 26.6 MPG, 13.7 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.9 APG, and 1.02 steals per game over the 40-game sample size. It will be really interesting to see Levert get a full NBA season under his belt, and it should be well within the grasps since new acquired Kevin Durant will be sidelined for most, if not all of the ‘19-‘20 NBA season. This should play well into Levert’s role, as he can play multiple positions on the floor, and is a great ball-handler as well.

Domantas Sabonis , IND C/PF - We have been awaiting the moment when Sabonis will get a regular role, and this season it could be more than likely with the off-season trade of Thaddeus Young . The Pacers shipped Young out, put TJ Warren in at the three, while Sabonis and Myles Turner anchor the interior. The Pacers are going to be hella good this season, also with the claim of Malcolm Brogdon as well! Sabonis is a force down low, and in 74 games for the Pacers last season, he averaged 24.8 MPG, 14.1 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.9 APG. Look for Sabonis to be a double-double machine this season, and help carry this Pacer team. Get him on your squad.

Marvin Bagley III, SAC PF/C - The Kings have tons and tons of young, raw talent on their roster, but one guy that should really stand out in his second year for them is Marvin Bagley III. The former second round pick (second overall) in the 2018 NBA draft, played 62 games last season. Bagley was highly efficient averaging 25.3 MPG, 14.9 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.6 steals per game, as well as 0.9 blocks per game. Marv is a big-time player, and with the Kings dishing off Willie Cauley-Stein to the Warriors over the off-season, look for Bagley to share responsibilities at both the power forward and center spot this season.

Malcolm Brogdon , IND PG - Brogdon was quietly one of the more efficient guards that played for the Milwaukee Bucks over the last three years, averaging 28.1 MPG, 12.8 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 3.6 APG over the time span. Last season, Brogdon played in 64 games for the Bucks, carrying a 20.9 usage rate, while playing 28.6 MPG, 15.6 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 3.2 APG. With the retirement of Darren Collison , Brogdon should fall right into a nice point guard starting job for the Pacers this season, dueling ball-handling duties with stud Vic Oladipo. The Pacers ranked 25th out of 30 teams in terms of PACE last season, but I would imagine that this ranking will be bunked quite a bit this season, as the acquisitions of both Brown and TJ Warren (both coming from top five pace teams in NBA), should allow them to run the floor a bit better this season.

Wendell Carter Jr, CHI C - There really isn’t much to be excited about for this Bulls team, however they do have a rising star in Carter Jr. Entering his second full season, I would expect the Bulls to open up Carter Jr. a bit more and allow him to get his experience even more so than last season. The former first round (seventh overall) pick in the 2018 NBA draft had a decent first season, playing 44 games and averaging 25.2 MPG, carrying a modest 19.4 usage rate, with 10.3 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.8 APG, and 1.2 blocks per game. This should be the season that Carter Jr. gets to flourish, and I will be all here for it.

Dejounte Murray , SAS PG - I believe a lot have forgotten about the stud former first round pick (29th overall) in the 2016 NBA draft due to his paltry injury history. However, I believe we finally see his talents in the 19’-20’ season after being out most of all of the ‘18-‘19 season. Murray is slotted to be the starting point guard for the Spurs this season, alongside the very talented Derrick White and DeMar DeRozan . Needless to say, the Spurs could be pretty nasty this season, and most definitely a contender in the West. Murray is loaded with talent, and has been seen showing some nice, promising videos of one-handed windmill dunks in rehab-training videos during the off-season. Look to see a revitalized season for Murray in ’19-’20.